The 35-year-old is the first woman in the role, something which new showrunner Chris Chibnall was keen to see happen.

Chris, who worked with Jodie on Broadchurch, said her audition ‘blew us all away’ and that she was the only person he wanted to cast.

He explained: ‘After months of lists, conversations, auditions, recalls, and a lot of secret-keeping, we’re excited to welcome Jodie Whittaker as the Thirteenth Doctor.

‘I always knew I wanted the Thirteenth Doctor to be a woman and we’re thrilled to have secured our number one choice.

Jodie is the Thirteenth Doctor (Picture: BBC)

‘Her audition for The Doctor simply blew us all away. Jodie is an in-demand, funny, inspiring, super-smart force of nature and will bring loads of wit, strength and warmth to the role. The Thirteenth Doctor is on her way.’

The actress has previously asked fans to not let the fact she is a woman worry them.

She said: ‘I want to tell the fans not to be scared by my gender. Because this is a really exciting time, and Doctor Who represents everything that’s exciting about change. The fans have lived through so many changes, and this is only a new, different one, not a fearful one.’

Jodie has asked fans not to worry about her gender (Picture: Getty)

On landing the role she added: ‘I’m beyond excited to begin this epic journey – with Chris and with every Whovian on this planet. It’s more than an honour to play the Doctor. It means remembering everyone I used to be, while stepping forward to embrace everything the Doctor stands for: hope. I can’t wait.’